The Athletic’s David Ornstein has now confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race for Andy Robertson’s services when the decorated Liverpool servant’s contract expires at the end of the season.
Dramatically, just a day on from Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, the news everyone expected regarding Andy Robertson filtered through.
Liverpool confirmed on Thursday evening that their long-standing servant will depart the club at the end of the season. According to the Reds’ official website, the veteran player has opted against extending his current contract, bringing his lengthy tenure on Merseyside to a close this summer.
With Mohamed Salah already set to depart, Anfield is bracing for a summer of significant upheaval. The sense of transition is further intensified by growing uncertainty surrounding head coach Arne Slot, whose own future now appears to be hanging in the balance.
It had been rumoured for some time that Robertson – who has long been a fan favourite with his 13 goals and 69 assists from 373 Reds appearances and counting – would leave when the season was over, with Celtic allegedly keen on his signature.
But respected journalist David Ornstein has now dropped who the frontrunner is to land the soon-to-be free agent’s signature, as relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur reportedly leap to the front of the queue.
Ornstein’s report on Robertson
The 32-year-old has two Premier League titles, a Champions League, the FA Cup, two Carabao Cups, the Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield to his name.
Robertson was in talks with a shock move to Tottenham in January, and is understood to have agreed terms before it was decided that he would stay at Liverpool.
Spurs are expected to renew their pursuit this summer, as Robertson appears ready to consider a move and explore his options away from Anfield.
“It’s never easy leaving a club like Liverpool, it has been a huge part of mine and my family’s life for the last nine years,” Robertson said on the club’s website.
“But, for me, players move on, other people move on – the thing that stays the same is the club and obviously the fans.
Despite falling behind Milos Kerkez in the pecking order under manager Arne Slot the defender will not be short of interest.
He has only made 19 appearances in the Premier League this term, with 12 more coming in cup competitions.
The Athletic have claimed that Tottenham are leading the way for the Scotsman’s signature.
Spurs interest in the full-back isn’t completely fresh news, as they were rumoured to be interesting in bringing him to North London in January.
So much so, a deal was allegedly agreed in principle between Spurs and Slot’s men, for a move to accelerate into motion during the winter transfer window, but this was abandoned as Liverpool changed their mind, owing to injuries troubling their backline.
Now, a deal could be back on the cards, according to the Athletic journalist, with Ornstein stating that Spurs – who are now managed by Roberto De Zerbi – are firmly in the lead to land their long-sought-after target.
There is a catch, however, as a move would only take place if the long-established Premier League outfit were to stay put in the top-flight.
This isn’t a given either, as Spurs are just one point shy of falling into the bottom three positions.
Moreover, nothing is properly finalised yet, as the much-loved Glaswegian remains fully focused on helping his current employers out of their own mess.
It has further been reported that the likes of Napoli, Juventus and Atletico Madrid from Europe are also keeping an eye on updates, as to where the two-time Premier League title winner will next call home.
There is set to be a frenzy in the off-season, it seems, for the coveted signature of the 32-year-old, with Tottenham keeping everything crossed, they can stave off relegation, and snap up the 92-time Scotland international.
With 327 Premier League appearances under his belt, he could be an ideal leader figure for De Zerbi to latch onto, with the brand-new Spurs boss even being hailed as a Jurgen Klopp-style head coach by ex-Liverpool star Adam Lallana.
Robertson had quite the time at Liverpool under the much-loved German, as he now goes about working out the next stages of his distinguished career, after nine fruitful years at Anfield.
